Golf indicator apparatus



Sept. 15, 1953 A. MOLINAR GOLF INDICATOR APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1952mwqvroze. mama/i; XX $2.4

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,652,251 H GOLFINDICATOR APPARATUS Alfonso Molinar, Mexico City, Mexico ApplicationJanuary 4, 1952, Serial No. 264,957

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a'device for correcting or improving thestance of a golf player, and more particularly concerns an apparatus formarking the relative positions of a golf ball and the golf players feetwith respect to the direc tion of intended flight of the golf ball.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device forindicating and recording a golfers stance. Another object is to providea convenient guide including frictionally adjustable indicatorarms foraligning the golf club in proper relation to the feet and ball. Anotherobject is to provide an adjustable device of this character "havingcalibrations indicating the proper change of position of feet and ballfor utilizing golf clubs of different sizes and kinds. Another object isto provide a device of this character for controlling the direction anddegree of curvature of the balls flight and thereby correcting a golfplayer's tendency to hook or slice or guiding the golf player in anintended hook or slice.

Golf devices having direction indicator devices have been intendedexclusively for practice purposes heretofore and have not been suitablefor both practice and for actual play. Such devices have been cumbersomeand heavy and therefore not well adapted to be carried by a golf playerand used from stroke to stroke in actual play on a golf course. In thisconnection it is another object of this invention to provide anapparatus of the character indicated which is readily portable in a golfbag and detachably securable in fixed position to the surface of thegolf course.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, including the simplicityand economy of the same, will be further apparent hereinafter, and inthe drawings, whereof:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a golf indicator device constitutingone specific embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 represents a front end view partly in section, taken as indicatedby the lines and arrows II-II which appear in Fig. 1, with the relativepositions of certain of the parts changed.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2, showing how thedevice may be secured to the surface of a golf course, and

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines andarrows IV-IV which appear in Fig. 1.

In summary, the invention relates to a golf direction and stanceindicator comprising a base, a sleeve extending through said base, saidsleeve having a bore of sufficient size to accommodate the shaft of agolf tee, a flight direction indicator fixed to said base, and positionindicator arms pivoted to said sleeve above said base for indicating theposition of the golf ball and the golfers foo Turning now to thespecific embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in thedrawings, the number 5 designates a sleeve having a circular flangeformed integrally at the top thereof. A washer 1 is secured to thebottom of the sleeve 5 and forms a flange similar to the flange 6,extending outwardly of the bore of sleeve 5. The washer 1 is secured inposition by the flared portion 8 of the sleeve 5.

The number I 0 designates a semi-circular base element to which isaffixed a direction indicator arm II having an arrow head 12 at itsforward end. The base l0 includes a transverse bar l3 having a straightline forward edge which serves to indicate the line along which the heelof the golfers forward foot should be located. Specifically, for a righthanded golfer, it will be understood that the right hand edge of thegolfers left (forward) foot will be disposed against the left hand(forward) edge of the base I!) while the golfers toe will be placedagainst the near edge of indicator arm I I. The heel of the golfersforward foot may be at any point adjacent the bar l3, orbeyond its end,depending upon the length of the golfers foot. But the golfers foot willin any case be aligned with the forward edge of base I0. A curved bar [4in the form of a semi-circle is formed integrally with the transversebar I3. The bars l3, l4 carry the integral plate element I 5 whichcarries markings indicat ingthe proper positions of the parts for usinggolf clubs of different sizes and kinds. The bars l3, l4 also supportthree arms I6 which carry markings indicatingthe proper relativepositions of the parts for opening and closing the golfers stance.

An adjustable indicator arm ll is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 5immediately above the washer 1, and in frictional contact therewith. Theadjustable indicator arm ll carries an. integral arrow head 20indicating the proper initial position of the golf ball. It also carriesan indicator stud 22 adjacent the markings on the plate element IS. Thetransverse bar [3 of base I0 is immediately above, and in frictionalcontact with, the adjustable indicator arm ll. Another adjustableindicator arm 2| is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 5 immediately abovethe transverse bar I 3. Adjustable indicator arm 2| is in frictionalcontact with the transverse bar l3 and with the flange E5. Theadjustable indicator arm 2i extends rearwardly of the transverse bar i3and has capacity to swing about the sleeve 5 to indicate the properposition of the rear foot of the golf player. It will be appreciatedthat the toe of the golfers rear foot will be disposed against the backend of indicator arm 21, and that it will be disposed at the desiredangle with respect to the golfers front foot. This angle may vary withdifferent golfers Or with different stances (closed or open), but in allcases the toe of the rear foot will point at the indicator arm 2! and inmany cases it will be substantially perpendicular thereto.

Means are provided for detachably securing the indicator device to theearth or other material comprising the surface of a golf course. It willbe observed. that the bore of sleeve 5 is of sumcient size toaccommodate the shaft 23 of golf tee which has an enlarged head 2%larger than the bore of sleeve 5.

In operation, the golf indicator device is conveniently carried in agolf bag or otherwise from place to place during the course of normalplay on a golf course. At each location where a golf stroke is to beplayed, the device is placed upon the ground and the golf tee shaft 23driven through the bore of shaft 5 and into the earth E, Fig. 3. Thegolf indicator device is thereby detachably secured in fixed position tothe surface of the golf course. The indicator arms ll, 2!, which arefrictionally held between the flange 6 and washer l by reason of thepressure created by the flared portion 8 of sleeve 5, are adjusted inaccordance with the character of the golf club to be used and the natureof the stance desired. The golf ball is placed opposite the tip of arrowhead 23, the golfers forward foot is placed with the right side edge ofthe heel in line with the left side edge of the transverse bar l3, andthe golfers rear foot is placed immediately adjacent the indicator atthe rear end of indicator arm 2!. After completing the stroke, the golfplayer may remove the indicator device from the surface of the golfcourse by the golf tee.

It will be appreciated that, although the invention has been describedin detail with reference to one specific embodiment thereof, it will bereadil apparent to those skilled in the art that the mechanical elementsof the device may be varied and that equivalent mechanisms may beemployed for accomplishing the same result, all within the scope of theinvention. All such changes, including reversals of parts and the use ofcertain features independently of other features, are considered to bewithin the spirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A golf direction and stance indicator comliiting it together withprising a sleeve having a substantially vertical bore, substantiallyhorizontal flanges at the top and bottom of said sleeve, said flangesextending outwardly of said bore, a lower indicator arm pivotallymounted on said sleeve in frictional contact with the flanges at thebottom of said sleeve, a base on said sleeve above said lower indicatorarm, a flight indicator fixed to said base, and an upper indicator armpivotally mounted on said sleeve in frictional contact with the flangesat the top of said sleeve, said base being formed integrally with saidflight indicator and said base having a straight forward edge thatextends perpendicular to said flight indicator and coacts with'theflight indicator to fix the position and direction of the goifersforward foot.

2. A golf direction and stance indicator comprising a sleeve having asubstantially vertical bore, substantially horizonta1 flanges at the topand bottom of said sleeve, said flanges extending outwardly of saidbore, a lower indicator arm on said sleeve in frictional;

pivotally mounted contact with the flanges at the bottom of said sleeve,a semi-circular base plate on said sleeve above said lower indicatorarm, said base plate having a straight-line forward edge serving as anindicator of the proper position of the heel of the golfers forwardfoot, an arm fixed to said base plate at a fixed angle to said forwardedge and serving as an indicator of the direction of flight of the golfball, and an upper indicator arm pivotally mounted on said sleeve infrictional contact with said base plate and with the flanges at the topof said sleeve, said base plate carrying a visible system of identifyingmarks arranged to indicate the proper positions of one of said indicatorarms to indicate the different locations of a golf ball for executingstrokes with different clubs, and said base plate also carryingaseparate system of identifying marks arrangedto indicate the properpositions of the other of said indicator arms to indicate the properpositions of the golfers rear foot to open and close the. golfersstance, both said indicator arms being pivoted about a common center.

ALFONSO MOLINAR.

References Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,208,995 Lyon Dec. 19, 1916 1,761,532 Morris June 3,1930 2,025,519 Lingg Dec. 24, 1935 2,180,170 Richards Nov. 14, 1939FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 388,166 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1933

